Ballasting machine



March 12, 1963 R. E. KELLER ET AL 3,080,665

BALLASTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 5) WM; 477" NE March 12, 1963 R. E. KELLER ETAL 3,080,665

BALLASTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS R0/ /1 E/(d/er Co/wn Z. Coy

BY @WM ATTORNEY.

March 12, 1963 R. E. KELLER ETI'IAL 3,080,665

BALLASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1961 mmvroas Ra0/7 E Kg //e/' 60/1/07 L.

0 BY Z Q ATTORNEY March 12, 1963 R. E. KELLER ET AL 3,080,665

BALLASTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 p 62 1/ 7.. i2 J5 -4 RQ/ W %/er 7 0/v//7 L. ('0 m a? United States Patent 3,080,665 BALLASTING MACHINE Ralph E. Keller and Calvin L. Coy, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignors to Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed June 19, 1961, Ser. No. 118,167 18 Claims. (Ci. 37-104) This invention relates to improvements in ballast distributing and working machines.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a ballast working and distributing machine which is adapted for use in Working and distributing ballast on track shoulder barriers under a wide range of conditions.

Second, to provide a ballast working-machine or apparatus which includes a railway vehicle capable of being driven in reverse direction along a railway track.

Third, to provide a ballast working machine which, in the event there is ballast in excess of the desired grade it may be discharged laterally outward relative to the graded ballast.

Fourth, to provide a ballast working machine which is capable of a wide range of adjustment for adaptation thereof to widely varying ballast conditions.

Fifth, to provide a ballast shoulder working means which is adapted to be used for the removing of ballast at the ends of the ties to facilitate the removal of ties from beneath the rails, or the placement of ties under the rails.

Sixth, to provide a ballast working and distributing machine having these several advantages in which the major portion of the parts of the assembly constitute bracing or rein-forcing means.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ballast working machine embodying our invention mounted on a railway track, conventionally shown, the shoulder ballast working unit being illustrated in retracted position, a scraper member being illustrated in lowered or use position. Such scraper members, however, not being part of the present invention, certain parts and connections for other parts are not illustrated.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view with the shoulder ballast working elements in lowered posi- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the ballast working units, the adjustable scraper member being shown in scraper position by dotted lines and in nonscraper position by full lines.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary outside elevational view.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of FIG. 4 with the adjustable combined scraper and closure member adjusted to scraping position. 4

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of 'FIG. 3 with the plow blades adjusted to working or use position by full lines and in retracted position by dotted lines.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 77 of FIG. 3 illustrating the ballast working disc unit in work position by full lines and in retracted position by dotted lines.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 8-8 of FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrating structural details of the relatively fixed scraper blades.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view mainly in vertical sec- 3,989,665 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 tion of the adjusting means for the shoulder ballast working unit.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating the ballast working means adjusted to remove the ballast from the ends of the ties facilitating removal or replacements of the ties beneath the rails.

It should be understood that details of connecting various fixedly connected parts are not illustrated as they form no part of our present invention but many of the connections are formed by welds as distinguished from bolts and screws, it being important that the connections be such as to withstand severe or heavy use stress.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents the ties under railway tracks or rails 2, and 3 the ballast. No attempt is made to illustrate the quantity of ballast as it is being worked upon by the apparatus of this application other than the scraper 50 is shown in operative scraping relation to the ballast 3. However, the scraper forms no part of this invention and is that illustrated in our application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 857,134 filed December 3, 1959, which application includes claims including the scraper. The carriage 4 of this application is substantially that illustrated in this pending application but it will be understood that the'carriage, and power means, as such, form no part of our present invention other than that it is a carriage which is reversibly driven.

As stated, the invention of this application is especially designed for use in connection with a reversibly driven carriage adapted to travel on a railway track. In practice two ballast working units are used, one on each side, and as these are duplicates only one is described.

These shoulder ballast working units comprise the outer and inner laterally spaced longitudinal members 5 and 6 of substantial vertical width and disposed in parallel relation. These longitudinal members 5 and 6 are fixedly secured at their ends to the end members 7 which are disposed in vertically spaced relation at their lower edges. In the preferred embodiment, the end members 7 are adjustably connected to the inner members or sections 8, being in telescoping engagement therewith. The inner members 8 are mounted on the uprights 9 for vertical and pivotal adjustment, which will be later described.

The oppositely facing scraper blades 10 are disposed in outwardly diverging relation to. each other with their lower scraping edges 11 in substantially the same plane. The inner and outer ends of these blades are fixedly secured to the inner and outer longitudinal members '5 and 6 and they are braced by the cross strut-s 12 and 13. Thus arranged the blades constitute cross members for the longitudinal members and they are disposed substantially centrally relative to the ends thereof. It will be understood that one blade serves as a scrape-r when the carriage is driven in one direction and the other blade when driven in opposite direction.

The outer longitudinal member 6 is provided with a discharge opening 14 which opens to the lower edge thereof. The purpose of this is that frequently there is an excess of ballast, that is there is more ballast than is required to produce the desired grade of the ballast shoulders at the outer ends of the ties.

The combined scraper and closure member 15 for this opening 14 is hingedly mounted at 161 so that it may be adjusted to opening and closing positions, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive or to scraper position, as shown by full lines in FIG. 5, and dotted lines in FIG. 3. This unit 15 desirably is provided with a reinforcing scraper blade 16 mounted on the lower edge. The scraper blade 16 is provided with vertical slits 17 to receive the attaching screws 18. The scraper blade 16 is subjected to wear and it constitutes a reinforcing means for the closure member 15 which is desirably made of sheet metal and as the member 15 may be subjected to considerable stress when in position for use as a scraper a diagonally disposed bar-like thrust member 19 is provided, see FIGS. 3 and 5. This also serves as a strut for the inner and outer longitudinal members and 6.

A stop 21 is provided for the member 15, see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The outer member 6 is provided with a keeper member 23 while the member 15 is provided with a keeper 24 which aligns with the keeper 23 to receive the locking bolt 25. With this bolt in engagement, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 4, the member 15 is held in its adjusted position to close the opening 14 in the outer member 6. The bolt 25 is engaged with the strut member 19 to hold the scraper member 15 in its scraper adjusted position, as shown in FIG. 3.

As stated, if there is not an excess of shoulder ballast the machine is operated with the adjustable scraper blade 15 in closed position as has been described but where there is an excess of ballast it is adjusted to scraper position. As the carriage is reversely driven the excess ballast may be discharged outwardly to distribute ballast that may be at the outside of the outer member 6 or which may be discharged through the opening therein. The outer member 6 is provided with blade-like wings 26 which are hingedly connected to the ends thereof, the hinges being conventionally illustrated at 27 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

These wings or blades 26 are adjustably supported by means of the links 28 pivoted to the outer sides thereof and adjustably connected to the outwardly projecting ears 29 on the outer longitudinal member 6. However, these wing-like extensions are disclosed in the heretofore referred to application for patent, Serial No. 857,134. However, it will be understood that these spreader wings do serve to spread the excess ballast that may be discharged through the opening in the outer longitudinal member so there is a functioning relation between such discharge opening and the spreaders.

To further facilitate the spreading and working of the ballast by the blades the plows or harrow members are provided at each side of the main scraper blades and in spaced relation thereto. One ballast working means, illustrated at the left end of FIGS. 3 and 5 and further details in FIG. 6, comprise the shaft 30 mounted on the support member 31 on the inner sides of the longitudinal members 5 and 6. An elongated hub 32 is rotatably mounted on this shaft or cross rod 30 and the plow blades 33 being mounted on the hub 32 to form a unitary assembly, the blades being provided with removable wear or face members 34. They are provided with upwardly projecting arms 35 which supportingly engage the cross piece 36 when the blades or plows are in working position.

The blades or plows engage the underside of the cross piece when in retracted position and are held in that retracted position by the removable cross rod 37. The angularly disposed portion of these plows is disposed on the underside of the bearing and clamped thereon by the clamp members 38, see enlarged detail of FIG. 6. It will be understood that there are some conditions in which these plow blades are not required and in other conditions they are highly desirable.

To further work up and distribute ballast a ballast working unit is provided at the other end of the ballast working means. This comprises the support members 31 mounted in alignment on the inner sides of the members 5 and 6 to receive an axle 30 not shown in detail for the hub 32 to which is clampingly secured the radial projecting arms 381 which is provided with bearings 39 at their outer ends for the shaft 40 on which a plurality of discs 41 are mounted. These are adjustably supported by means of chains 42 which are adjustably engageable with brackets 43, see' FIG. 7. The details of the bracket 43 for the second chain are not illustrated. With this arrangement the discs may be supported in retracted position as illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 7 or lowered to ballast engaging position as shown by full lines.

It will be understood that the conditions of ballast vary greatly; that it commonly becomes consolidated from use, and proper drainage for the ties through the ballast is a highly desirable condition. Also, in supplying additional ballast it is commonly dumped in varying quantities along the track.

The applicants invention is designed for and is effective for use under Widely varying conditions, as has been pointed out, and it operates etfectively in both forward and reverse travel of the carriage. The adjustable combined blade and closure member 15 is adjusted for use in varying conditions not only for removal of excess ballast as has been described, but also in the event that it is desired to remove ballast from the ends of the ties to permit their removal from under the rails or insertion of ties under the rails.

The mounting of the ballast working unit for lateral adjustment relative to the carriage is illustrated in our application referred to.

In the embodiment illustrated, the manual control means for adjusting the ballast working unit to and from working position comprises the cable 44, one end of which is secured at 45 to the body of the carriage and is rove or passed around a pulley 46 on the spreader unit and over a guide pulley 47 to a manually controlled cable winding means designated generally by the numeral 48, see FIGS. 1 and 2.

The means for adjusting the scraper unit 50 to and from work position is designated generally by the numeral 51, the details not being described as they form no part of this present invention. The uprights 9 are mounted on the slides 52 which are supported at their outer ends on the hangers 55. These parts are conventionally illustrated in the drawings, the hydraulic actuating means being also conventionally illustrated at 53, see FIGS. 1, 9 and 10.

The members 8 are provided with inwardly and upwardly projecting forks 56 which embrace the uprights 9 and are connected by the pivots 57 to the plungers 58 projecting from the hydraulic cylinders 59 which are suspendingly mounted at 60 on the uprights 9. These uprights have vertical slots 61 through which the pins 57 project with the yoke arms 56. To increase the lateral adjustment of the scraper units beyond the adjustment of the support members 52, the supporting arms 8 are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 610 adapted to receive the connecting bolts 62, see particularly FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. One of the purposes of this adjustable mount-ing, as stated, is to permit adjustment of the scraper unit to the position conventionally indicated in FIG. 11 to remove ballast from the ends of the ties and thereby permit or facilitate the removal and the replacement of ties. It is of advantage for this purpose to position the combined scraper-closure member 15 in its inner or scraper position illustrated in FIG. 5, thus permitting the discharge of the ballast from the ballast scraper working unit. The positioning of one or both of the ballast working units in ballast working position also greatly facilitates the removal of the ballast from the ends of the ties.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations which are possible and are contemplated for particular adaptations, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast Working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel rela;

tion, support members to which said longitudinal members are fixedly secured, a pair of oppositely facing outwardly diverging scraper blades disposed between and fixedly connected to said longitudinal members and constituting connecting and bracing members therefor, said outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof at one side of said scraper blades, an adjustable scraper blade dimensioned to constitute a closure for said discharge opening in said outer longitudinal member and hingedly mounted at one end thereof for swinging adjustment to an angularly disposed position between said longi tudinal members at one side of said pair of scraper blades. said adjustable scraper blade being dimensioned to constitute a closure for said opening in said outer longitudinal member when adjusted to non-scraping position, and means for securing said adjustable scraper blade in both of its said adjusted positions.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, support members to which said longitudinal members are fixedly secured, a pair of oppositely facing scraper blades disposed between and fixedly connected to said longitudinal members and constituting connecting and bracing members therefor, said outer longitudinal member having a discharge opening therein, an adjustable scraper blade of such length that it extends transversely between said longitudinal members when adjusted to its scraper position and constitutes a closure for said opening in said outer longitudinal member when adjusted to non-scraping position, there being means for securing said adjustable scraper blade in both of its said adjusted positions, a ballast working means comprising a shaft extending between and supportingly mounted on said longitudinal members at one side of said fixed scraper blades, a plurality of laterally spaced plow blades supportedly mounted on said shaft for adjustment to and from working position.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, support members to which said longitudinal members are fixedly secured, a pair of oppositely facing scraper blades disposed between and fixedly connected to said longitudinal members and constituting connecting and bracing members therefor, said outer longitudinal member having a discharge opening therein, an adjustable scraper blade of such length that it extends transversely between said longitudinal members when adjusted to its scraper position and constitutes a closure for said opening in said outer longitudinal member when adjusted to non-scraping position, there being means for securing said adjustable scraper blade in both of its said adjusted positions, a shaft extending between and supportingly mounted on said longitudinal members at one side of said fixed scraper blades, and a plurality of laterally spaced plow blades supportedly mounted on said shaft for adjustment to and from working position. i I

4. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working unit comprising inner and outer laterally spaced fixedly connected longitudinal members of substantially vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, support members for said ballast working unit mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment relative to the carriage, a pair of oppositely facing scraper blades disposed between and fixedly connected to said longitudinal members with their ballast engaging edges in substantially the same plane, the outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening therein disposed at one side of said scraper blades, a combined scraper blade and closure member for said opening mounted for adjustment from scraper position to closure position and vice versa, a ballast working means disposed between said longitudinal members and at the front of said adjustable scraper blade, and means for adjusting said ballast working means to and from working position and independently of the adjustment of said adjustable scraper blade.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working unit comprising inner and outer laterally spaced fixedly connected longitudinal members of substantially vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, support members for said ballast working unit mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment relative to the carriage, a pair of oppositely facing scraper blades disposed between and fixedly connect to said longitudinal members with their ballast engaging edges in substantially the same plane, the outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening therein disposed at one side of said scraper blades, a combined scraper blade and closure member for said opening mounted for adjustment from scraper position to closure position and vice versa.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, oppositely facing scraper blades disposed between and mounted on said longiutdinal members, said outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof and disposed at one side of said scraper blades, an adjustable scraper blade mounted for adjustment to an inward angularly disposed position relative to said outer longitudinal member for discharging material scraped thereby through said opening, said adjustable scraper blade being dimensioned to constitute a closure for said opening in said outer longitudinal member, and means for supporting said adqustable scraper blade in its scraping position and in its closure position.

7. A machine of the glass described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means drivingly mounted on said carriage and comprising inner and outer laterally spaced fixedly connected longitudinal members, the outer mem ber being of substantial vertical width and having a ballast discharge opening therein, a combined scraper blade and closure member for said opening mounted for adjustment from scraping position to closure position and vice versa, a pair of oppositely facing relatively fixed scraper blades mounted between said longitudinal members in oppositely facing outwardly diverging relation to each other, and a ballast working means comprising a plurality of blades disposed at the front of said adjustable scraper blade when it is adjusted to its ballast scraping position, and means for adjusting said ballast working means to and from working position independently of the adjustment of said adjustable scraper blade.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means drivingly mounted on said carriage and comprising inner and outer laterally spaced fixedly connected longitudinal members, the outer member being of substantial vertical width and having a ballast discharge opening therein, a combined scraper blade and closure member for said opening mounted for adjustment from scraping position to closure position and vice versa, and a pair of oppositely facing relatively fixed scraper blades mounted between said longitudinal member in oppositely facing outwardly diverging rela- 7 tion to each other.

9. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working machine drivingly mounted on said carriage and comprising inner and outer laterally spaced fixedly connected longitudinal members, the outer member being of substantial vertical width and having a ballast discharge opening therein, a combined scraper blade and closure member for said opening mounted for adjustment from scraping position to closure position and vice versa, a relatively fixed scraper blade mounted between said longitudinal members, and a ballast working means disposed at the front of said adjustable scraper blade when it is adjusted to its ballast scraping position.

10. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means drivingly mounted on said carriage and comprising inner and outer laterally spaced fixedly connected longitudinal members, the outer member being of substantial vertical width and having a ballast discharge opening therein, a combined scraper blade and closure member for said opening mounted for adjustment from scraping position to closure position and vice versa, and a relatively fixed scraper blade mounted between said longitudinal members.

11. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, oppositely facing scraper blades disposed transversely between said longitudinal members, said outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof and disposed at one side of said scraper blades, an adjustable scraper blade and closure member mounted for adjustment to an inward angularly disposed position relative to said outer longitudinal members for discharging material scraped thereby through said opening, said adjustable scraper blade constituting a closure for said opening in said outer longitudinal member when adjusted to closure position, and means for supporting said adjustable scraper blade in its scraping position and in its closure position.

12. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, a scraper blade disposed transversely between said longitudinal members, said outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof and disposed at one side of said scraper blade, an adjustable scraper blade and closure member mounted for adjustment to an angularly disposed position inwardly of said outer longitudinal member for discharging material scraped thereby through said opening, said adjustable scraper blade and closure member being adjustable to constitute a closure for said opening in said outer longitudinal member, means for supporting said adjustable scraper blade and closure in its scraping position and in its closure position, and a scraper blade projecting laterally outwardly from said outer longitudinal member and positioned to spread ballast discharged through said opening therein.

13. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to reversibly travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, a scraper blade disposed transversely between said longitudinal members, said outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening extending upwardly from the lower end thereof and disposed at one side of said scraper blade, an adjustable scraper blade and closure member mounted for adjustment to an angularly disposed position inwardly of said outer longitudinal member for discharging material scraped thereby through said opening, said adjustable scraper blade and closure member being adjustable to constitute a closure for said opening in said outer longitudinal member, and means for supporting said adjustable scraper blade and closure in its scraping position and in its closure position.

14. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other and relative to the track on which the carriage is traveling, at scraper blade mounted between said longitudinal members for adjustment to and from ballast scraping position, the outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof to permit discharge of ballast therethrough, and an adjustable closure for said discharge opening.

15. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members of substantial vertical width disposed in substantially parallel relation, a scraper blade disposed between said longitudinal members, said outer longitudinal member having a ballast discharge opening therein disposed relative to said blade to permit discharge therethrough of ballast scraped by said blade, and means for opening and closing said opening.

16. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members, a scraper blade disposed between said members, tubular outer end members of rectangular cross section to which said inner and outer members are fixedly secured and having bolt receiving holes therein, inner end members supportedly and telescopingly engaged with said outer end members and provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes therein with which said holes in said outer end members are selectively alignable, connecting bolts for said outer and inner end members engageable with aligned holes therein, support members mounted on said carriage for adjustment laterally thereof, said support members having upwardly projecting vertically slotted uprights at their outer ends, said inner end members having yokes at their inner ends slidably embracing said uprights, and means supportedly mounted in said uprights and connected to said yokes for raising and lowering the inner ends of said end members.

17. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaced longitudinal members, a scraper blade disposed between said longitudinal members, tubular outer end members to which said inner and outer members are fixedly secured and having bolt receiving holes therein, inner end members supportingly and telescopingly engaged with said outer end members and provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes therein with which said holes in said outer end membars are selectively alignable, connecting bolts for said outer and inner end members engageable with said holes therein, support members mounted on said carriage for adjustment laterally thereof, said support members having upwardly projecting uprights at their outer ends, said inner end members having slidable engagement with said uprights, and means supportedly mounted in said uprights and connected to said inner end members for raising and lowering them.

18. A machine of the class described comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, a shoulder ballast working means comprising inner and outer laterally spaoed longitudinal members, the outer member being of substantial vertical width and having a ballast discharge opening therein, a combined scraper blade and closure member for said opening mounted for adjustment from scraping position to closure position and vice versa, a pair of oppositely facing relatively fixed scraper 9 blades mounted between said longitudinal member in oppositely facing relation to each other, telescoping associated inner and outer end members, means for adjustably connecting said outer member to said inner memher, support members mounted on said carriage for 5 lateral adjustment relative thereto and provided with uprights at their outer ends, said inner end members being in pivotal engagement with said uprights, and means supportedly mounted on said uprights and connected to said inner end members for raising and lowering the 10 inner ends of said inner end members on said uprights.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Holland Nov. 20, 1928 Pacheco July 26, 1949 Kershaw Jan. 22, 1952 Judd May 29, 1956 Schiavi June 5, 1956 Kershaw Dec. 27, 1960 

1. A MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO REVERSIBLY TRAVEL ON A RAILWAY TRACK, A SHOULDER BALLAST WORKING MEANS COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER LATERALLY SPACED LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS OF SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL WIDTH DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION, SUPPORT MEMBERS TO WHICH SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS ARE FIXEDLY SECURED, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY FACING OUTWARDLY DIVERGING SCRAPER BLADES DISPOSED BETWEEN AND FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS AND CONSTITUTING CONNECTING AND BRACING MEMBERS THEREFOR, SAID OUTER LONGITUDINAL MEMBER HAVING A BALLAST DISCHARGE OPENING EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF AT ONE SIDE OF SAID SCRAPER BLADES, AN ADJUSTABLE SCRAPER BLADE DIMENSIONED TO CONSTITUTE A CLOSURE FOR SAID DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID OUTER LONGITUDINAL MEMBER AND HINGEDLY MOUNTED AT ONE END THEREOF FOR SWINGING ADJUST- 